Boat lift



W. SMITH 3,083,540

BOAT LIFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 2, 1963 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 IN V ENTOR. s M I Tl! A T 70 R/VEYS April 2, 1963 w. SMITH 3,083,540

BOAT LIFT Filed Aug. 3l, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILL/wo f1/74United States Patent Willard Smith, RR. 2, Alpena, Mich.

Filed Aug. 3l, 1959, Ser. N 836,993 l Claim. (l. 1-65) This inventionrelates to the boat lift art, and more particularly to a new andimproved boat lift which is portable and provided with a movable roof.

it is an Obie-ct of the present invention to provide a boat lift of thisclass which is adapted to be hydr ulically operated `and which isprovided with a roof that automatically raises for easy boarding of theboat when the boat is lowered into the water, and which lowers over theboat when it is raised out of the water.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a boat lift ofthis class which is simple and compact in construction, economical ofmanufacture, easily operated and highly efficient in use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a boat lift of thisclass which is provided with a cradle having a pair of lifting armswhich may be elevated to raise a boat clear of the water.

Other obiects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following etailed description `and appended claim,reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thespecification wherein like reference numerals designate correspendingparts of the several views.

In the drawings:

FlG. 1 is a front perspective view of a boat lift made in accordancewith the principles of the invention, and showing the roof in a raisedposition;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective View of the structure illustrated in HG. l,and showing the roof in a lowered position;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the structure illustrated inFIG. l; and,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the structureillustrated in PEG. 2, taken along the line 4 4 thereof and looking inthe direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. l and 2, apreferred embodiment of the invention is shown and includes a fronttransverse supporting structure including the transverse verticallyspaced apart tubes l@ and ll which are xedly interconnected by aplurality of laterally spaced apart tubes as l2. The transverse tubes 19and il are iixedly connected at their ends, as by Welding, to thevertical front standards i3 and l which are preferably formed from atubular member.

As shown in FlG. l, the vertical standard i3 is slidably supported onthe telescopically mounted rod l5 which is ixedly mounted on the plate lwhich is in turn supported by the roller i7. The standard i3 may beadjusted to any desired vertical position relative to the rod l5 bymeans of the set screw i8. The vertical standard lliis slidaoly mountedon the vertical rod i9 which is telescopically received in the lower endof the standard 14 and which is ixedly carried by the plate 2d. Theplate Ztl is carried by the roller 2l, and the standard ld is adapted tobe secured in an adjusted position relative to the rod i9, by means ofthe set screw 22.

The boat lift of the present invention further includes a reartransverse supporting frame comprising the transverse vertically spacedapart tubular members Z3 and 24 which are fixedly interconnected bymeans of a plurality of laterally spaced apart vertical braces as 25.The ends of the transverse tubes 23 and 24 are iixedly connected to therear vertical standards 26 and 27 as by means of welding. As shown inFlG. 2, the standard 25 is vertically adjustably mounted on the rod "Dwhich is hired 3,' 83,54@ Patented Apr. 2, 19:33

ICC

on the plate 2@ which is in turn carried by the roller Sil. The standard26 is held in a desired adjusted position relative to the rod 2d bymeans of the set screw 3l. The vertical standard 27 is slidablyadjustably mounted on the vertical rod 32 which is fixed on the plate 33which is in turn mounted on the roller 34. The standard 27 is adapted tobe adjustably secured to the rod 32 by means of the set screw As shownin FlGS. 1 and 2, the boat lift supporting fratrie further includes theleft longitudinal supporting structure, including the longitudinallydisposed vertically spaced apart tubes 3d, 37 and 3S which are iixedlyinterconnected by means of the vertical braces 39 and 4d. The braces 39are mounted between the tubes 35 and 37, and the braces it? are mountedbetween the tubes 3'7 and 35. The rear ends of the tubes 3o', 37 and 38are xedly connected to the vertical standard Z5 by any suitable means,as by welding. The front ends of the tubes 36, 37 and 3S are iixediyconnected to the left front standard ift by any suitable means, as bywelding.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the boat lifting frame further includes theright side longitudinal supporting structure, including thelongitudinally disposed vertically spaced apart tubes All, 42 and d3which are iixedly interconnected by means of the vertical braces lidand45. The braces dfi are mounted between the tubes il and 42, and thebraces d are mounted between the tubes 42 and 43. The rear ends of thetubes Atl, 42 and i3 are fixedly connected to the vertical standard 27by any suitable eans, as by welding. The front ends of the tubes di, 42and 43 are fxedly connected to the right front standard 13 by anysuitable means, as by welding. The boat lift structure is furtherstrengthened by the horizontal cross braces 46 and 47 which are xedlyconnected at their cross over point by means of a suitable bolt and nutmeans indicated by the numeral The ends of the cross braces do and 47are suitably xedly connected to the longitudinal tubes 36 and si by anysuitable means, as by the bolt and nut means indicated by the numeral49.

The boat lift of the present invention includes a boat cradle comprisingthe transverse rockably mounted tubular shafts Sti and 5l. The shafts 5%and 51 are rockahly mounted at each end thereof between the tubes 37 and38, and dit and 42, respectively, by any suitable means, as by theU-shaped bearing members 52 which are made from flat plate material andwelded to the standards at each corner of the boat lift. As shown inFIGS. l and 2, a pair of laterally spaced apart lifting arms 5d and 55re xedly connected at the lower ends thereof to the shaft Sti, and thesearms are provided on the upper end thereof with the sleeves 56 and 57,respectively. Rotatably mounted through the sleeves 56 and 57 is theshaft 53 which is retained in the sleeves by means of Cotter keys as S9.The shaft is adapted to carry a pair of bow blocks as 6i) and 6l forsupporting the front end of a boat as 62 in the usual manner. iiheblocks 69 and are pivotally mounted on a pair of U-shaped brackets 63and 64. which are xedly connected to the supporting sleeves 65 and 56.The sleeves e5 and ed are xedly secured to the shaft 58 by means of theset screws 67 and 63, respectively. The sleeves 65 and 6o may thus beadjusted sidewardly as desired for diiferent size boats.

As shown in FIG. 2, a rear pair of lifting arms 59 are edly mounted atthe lower ends thereof on the shaft Si and are provided on the upperends thereof with the sleeves 'tl and 7l. Rotatably mounted in thesleeves 'itl and 7i is the horizontal transverse shaft 72 which isretained in said sleeves by means of Cotter keys as indicated by thenumeral 73. Fivedly mounted on the shaft 72 is a pair of stern blocks as7d for supporting the stern of the boat 62. The blocks 74 are suitablyxed to the shaft 72, as by means of the bolts 75. The front and reartransverse shafts 58 `and 72 are lixedly interconnected by means of thelongitudinally extended shaft 76 through the fittings 77. It will beseen that asrthe shafts 50 and 51 are rotated, the boat 62 will belifted from the lowered position shown in FIGS. l and 3 to the raised'or storage position shown in FIG. 2, as more fully describedhereinafter. Y

The means for rocking the boat cradle includes the pair of levers 78 and79 which'a're iixedly connected at the lower ends thereof vto the shafts59 and 51, respectively. The upper ends of the levers 7 S and 7 9 areinterconnected by means of the connecting rod Si) which is hingedlyconnected to these levers by means of the pivot pins S1 and 82. It willbe seen that when one of the shafts 50 and 52 is rocked, the other willbe correspondingly rocked. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a -pair of spacedapart levers 873 and 84 are connected at the lower ends thereof to theextended shaft 51. Hingedly connected lto the levers 83 and l84, bymeans ofthe pin 85, is the actuating arm 86. The upper-'end of the armS6 is formed into spaced apart portions 8-7 and 8S which are pivotallymounted on` the upper ends thereof to the cross shaft 89. The shaft S9is ixedly connected to the cylinder rod 90 of a conventional hydrauliccylinder or hydraulic jack. yThe jack 91 is manually operable in theusual manner by means of the handle 92'.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of horizontal tubes 93, 94 and 95are welded to the longitudinal tube 43. The tubes 93, 94 and 95 extendoutwardly and are supported by the diagonal braces 96, 97 and 9S. Thetubes 93, 94 and 95 are adapted to support an operators platform orplank 99. A pair of horizontal outwardly extended tubes 100 and 101 arealso welded to the rear end of the longitudinal tube `43 and have fixedtherebetween a longitudinal plate 102 to provide a supporting means forthe jack 91. The arm portions S7 and 8S pass on either side of the'plate102. The tubes 100' and 191 are lbraced by the longitudinal tube v103and the diagonal braces 104 and 105.

As shown in FIGS. l and 3, the boat lift includes `a ro'of whichcomprises a frame having the outer side tubular rails 106 and 107 whichare inter-connected by a plurality of curved or arcuate tubular crossmembers asV 108. The frame is covered with any Suitable material 109, ascanvas, aluminum or any other suitable lightweight material. The roof isrockably supported by the following described structure. Thelongitudinal tube 106 is rockably supported in the sleeve 110 which isfixed on the rod 111 which is a'dj'ustably mounted in the upper end ofthe standard 14 by means of the set screw 112. 'Ihe longitudinal tube106V is also rockably supported at the rear end thereof by means of thesleeve 113 which is Xed on the shaft 114 which is adjustably mounted inthe standard 26 by' means of the setv screw 115. Additional support fortheY tubular rail 106 is provided by the sleeves 116 and 11S which arexedly connected to the rods 111 and 114 by means ofthe arms 117 and 119,respectively.

The roof is adapted to be rocked or pivoted about the longitudinal tube106 as an axle by means of the following structure. A rock lever 120 isxedly connected at one end thereof, by means of therbolt and nut means121, to the boat cradle rock lever 79. The other end of the lever 120 ishingedly connected to the link 122 by means of the pin 123 at the *lowerend of the link 122. The upper end of the link 122 is hingedly connectedby means of the pin 1245 to the tube 125 in the upper end of which isadjustably slidably mounted the rod 126. The rod 126 is adapted to beiixed in the tube 125 in anV adjusted desired v position by means of theset screw 1:27. The upper end of the -rod 126 is hingedly connected tothe sleeve 128 by means of the integral plate 129 and pin 130. Thesleeve 128 is rockably mounted on Vthe roof longitudinal tubular rail107. The front side of the roof is similarly connected tothe front boatcradle rock lever 78. As shown in FIGS.

' parts are adjustably secured together by means of the set v loadingposition when said shafts are moved in the other Y screw 138. The upperend of the rod 137 is hingedly connected to the sleeve 139 by means ofthe integral Vplate 140 and the pin 141. The sleeve 139 is rockablymountedV with the Ushaped rest 145 for the reception of the frontV endof the tubular roof rail 107. The rod 144 is adjustably secured in thesleeve 143 lby means of the set screw 146.

In operation, the roof will be in the vlowered positionV when the boatis in the raised position, as shown in FIG.

2. ln this position the hydraulic pump 191 has been Y actuated to raisethe arm 86 upwardly whereby Vthe cradle levers 78 and 79 are rockedupwardly, whichin turn swings the lifting arms of the cradle upwardly.During such action the arms and 131 of the roof actuating structure willbe swung downwardly whereby the links 122 and 123 will also be swungdownwardly to rock the roof to its lowered position. When the jack 91isoperated to lower the arm 36, the boat cradle will be rocked to itslowered position and simultaneously the roof lifting levers 120, 131 andthe links 122 and 133 will be moved upwardly and the roof will be rockedto the raised position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, whereby the boat may beboarded with ease. Experience has shown that the boat lift of thepresent invention is ecient in Operation and is easy to use.

While it will be apparent that thepreferred embodifair meaning of thesubjoined claim. Forrexample, the" rollers' on the lower ends of thestandards may be deleted and suitable skid pads may be substitutedtherefor.

What I claim is:

Ina boat lift device of the class described, the combination comprising:a supporting frame; a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, transverselydisposed horizontal shafts rotatably mounted on said supporting frame atoppof site ends thereof; a boat cradle connected to said shafts andmovable from a lowered boat loadingrpositionlto a raised boat storageposition when saidshaf't's are rotatedv in one direction and movableback to the loweredl boat direction; said supporting frame beingrmountedon a pluf rality of supporting legs which are adjustable in length tcadjust the supporting frame upwardly and downwardly relative to thelevel of the water into which'a boatis to be taken from or launchedinto; a first pair of lvertical standards ixedly connected to saidsupporting fratrieV along one side thereof and at spaced apartlongitudinal positions; a'rod adjustably mounted in the upper end ofeach of said first pair of vertical standards; a roof pivotallyconnected at one side thereof to the upper ends of said last mentionedrods and extendingv over said cradle; a second pair of verticalstandards disposed along the other side of said cradle in longitudinallyspaced apart positions; a second pair of rods adjustably mounted intheupper ends of said last mentioned pair of standards; the other side ofVsaid roof being pivotally connected to the upper ends of said' lastmentioned pair of rods; a rst lever iixedly connected 5 at the lower endthereof to one of said transverse shafts and at the upper end thereof tothe lower end of one of said last mentioned pair of vertical standards;a second lever having the lower end thereof xedly connected to the othershaft and the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the lower end ofthe other of said last mentioned pair of vertical standards; a thirdlever having one end thereof iixedly connected to a separate one of saidshafts and at au angular position rotated apart from said first andsecond levers; a hydraulic jack; and a jack lever having the upper endthereof connected to said hydraulic jack and the lower end thereofhingedly connected to the outer end of said third lever, whereby whensaid hydraulic jack is operated upwardly, said third lever will rotatesaid transverse shafts to raise said boat cradle and said rst and secondlevers will be moved to lower the second pair of vertical standards,whereby said roof will be pivoted downwardly at said other side aboutsaid one side, and when said hydraulic jack is operated downwardly, thetransverse shafts will be rotated in the opposite direction to lower theboat cradle and raise the roof.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,708,346 Smith May 17, 1955 2,902,184 Buckner Sept. l, 1959

